#✦ upshur. ╱ bloody prophet mine: is it worse you are awake or you are alive?

[cataschism]

Michel is humming to himself, washing his hands until they break from lathered soap &. endless water ( coming from a faucet he does not pay for ! ) and he dries them in a new, still folded towel. He checks his messages while peeling dead skin from his top lip. The friend             /             colleague ?            /             PIG he’d just got done working on was bleeding through his undershirt. He’d have to give him a jacket. Maybe a tie?

[ SMS ] Ah, by the harbor? I imagine you journalists always are. ♡

He looks again at the pig. Michel just shaved his face, but he looks too babyish without his facial hair. It stank &. he never kept it trimmed. It was disgusting. Michel prefers him this way, &. still thinks he’s pathetic. What was his name?

Wasn’t it Miles, too?

Oh, that’s funny. Nothing like his journalist, however.

[ SMS ] Oh, sure. Can I call you “Darling” next? Since we’re getting so informal.

Michel is typing. . .

[ SMS ] Kidding. I know you don’t like that. I wouldn’t. An hour, then ☆

Michel is typing. . . Michel is typing. . .

[ SMS ] I’ll start driving there in 44 minutes, on the dot. It’s about 16 minutes away. Can’t wait, Miles. Michel puts on a respirator, douses the kitchen in bleach, and puts on his favorite latex glove brand. He can reposition his art in 44 minutes, or less.

he rolls his eyes, multitasking between his computer and cell. he's printing a few things off to stuff in a manilla envelope filled with other evidence he's been collecting.

miles is typing ...

[ SMS ] : I didn't ask for a novel. I just asked if you were awake.

[ SMS ] : Meet me downtown in an hour. Where that girl went missing last week. You know where.

[ SMS ] : Before you ask, I'm looking into something.

miles is typing ...

miles is typing ...

[ SMS ] : Also, just Miles is fine btw. Formalities not needed.

formalities is what he's calling it. keep it professional. i don't get involved with people i work with like that. not anymore.

[ SMS ] : An hour. There's a bar nearby. I want to look at the scene again first. Then we'll have a drink. Best to talk in person. Might have something. Remember. An hour. I'm already on my way.